Mathéus made no reply; he had neither strength nor courage to do so; but Kasper Müller, laying his hand on the worthy fellow’s shoulder, said to him—
“I have a place for you, comrade—a place that will suit you much better than that of Chief Rabbi. I have a place of cellarman vacant—forty francs a month, lodging, board, and the generosity of the customers. Eh?—what say you?”
The fat round face of Coucou Peter expanded with satisfaction.
“Ah, Maître Kasper, you have a way of taking people on their weak side!”
“You renounce the dignity of Chief Rabbi, then?” cried the brewer.
“Well—since Maître Frantz——”
“No, no! you must decide the question for yourself.”
“I’ faith, then,” cried Coucou Peter, rising, “long live the cellar! My proper place is there.”
As soon as his disciple had renounced the doctrine, the illustrious philosopher breathed more freely; and, raising his hands, he said—